Fertilizer distributor



NOV. 3, 1953 B. E *PIERCE FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. lO, 1951 A AAA' R 0 T N E V N .BerneZZ E', P/L'erce ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1953 B. E. PIERCE 2,657,831

FERTILIZEIR DISTRIBUTOR Filed Jan. lO, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 'A'BYM-v-wub ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITEDY STATES PATENT OFFICE FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTOR Bernell E. Pierce, PleasantomvCalif. Application January 10, 1951, Serial No. 205,340'

2 claims. (C1. 222-272) Thisv invention relatesv generally to an agricultural implement, and in particular to a'powerdriven fertilizer distributor.

A major object of the invention is to provide a fertilizer distributor whichy embodies. with,V aA` hopper,y a novel mechanism operativeto deliver controlled quantities of `fertilizer from said hopper and through selectively regulated outlets; the distributor` being especially designed, but not limited, for the distribution of commercial type fertilizers.

Another important object of the inventionis tol provide the fertilizer distributor with anauger feed unit: of novel construction and function.

A further object of the invention is topi-avide a novel rotary agitator Working in. the hopper in cooperative relation to the auger feed unit, as above.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a. fertilizer distributor which force-feeds the fertilizer tothefoutletsv in proportioned quantity; the implement thus. being non-clogging, and effective to feedand distributefertilizer which may bemoist'or lumpy.

It is also an object of the'invention toi provide a fertilizer distributor which is designed for ease" and economy of' manufacture.

An additional object. ofthe invention. is to prow vide a fertilizer distributor which is heavy-duty,

rugged, and dependable; they auger feed unit be'- ing adapted for ready adjustment. to broadcast fertilizer', to side dress along crop rows, or to drill the fertilizer.

Stillv another object of ther invention is to. prosv vide a' practical and reliabler fertilizer distributor,v

and one which will be exceedingly effective for" the purpose for which it. is designed.

These objects are accomplishedr by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts i' as will fully'appear by a perusal` of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l illustrates the fertilizer distributor' in.

transverse section; the View beingk taken on line I-I of Fig; 2.

Fig. 2` is a sectional elevation, foreshortened,"

on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the auger feed u-nit.

Fig. 4 is aperspective View of one of' the caps for the augery feed unit.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a modified auger feed unit. v y

Referring now' more particularly tothe char-y acters of reference on the drawings; and at pres-y ent to Figs. 1 4 inclusive, they novel fertilizerspending .to the intake with, and extends between, the end plates 3 at` their upper end and alongside the hopper I; such countershaft being driven, from one wheel of' the tractor or implement, by connections which include a sprocket '1, but which connections are not' otherwise shown.

The bottom of the hopper I is comprised of ar horizontal, longitudinal, auger feed unit, indicatedy generally at. 8, which unit includes a center shaft 9 driven, atl one end and exteriorly of the hopper I, from the countershaft S by an endless chain and sprocket unit I0. Above the auger feed unit 8, and yWithin the hopper I1, thereis a horizontal, longitudinal, rotary agitatorunit; indicated generally at II, which includes a; center shaft I2; the center shaft I2 being' driven, at oneend and exteriorly of the hopper I, by means of an endless chain and sprocket unit I3.

The: auger feed unit 8 comprises a` cylindrical feed tube Ik, preferably constructed of initially separate upper and lower halves; the lowerhalf having an innerfacing or lining of rubber I5; the' purpose of` rubber lining being to as- Surefof free flow ofthe fertilizer along the feed tube M, as fertilizer does ynot tend to stick or buildV up onlrubber as it does on metal.

The center shaft 9 is fitted with helical or-auger flights I6 and'A l1 which extend from a center point on said shaft, feeding in opposite directions thereiromii. e. from thev center point toward the outer end of the shaft.

The upper half ofithe feed tube I4 is formed with a central. intake opening` I8, and in each lengthwise half thereof, with an intermediate intake opening I9 and an end intake opening 20; the openings I8, I9, and 20 being of substantially 't in transverse extent.

The bottom of the feed tube I 4l isformed', ink each longitudinal half thereof, with a plurality' of diagonal outlet openings 2i, 22', and 23 corre.-

openings i8, IS, and 20, respectively,l but being offset laterally outwardly; 1. e. in the` direction of feed of the corresponding auger flights. The outlet openings 2l are diag-r onal for the reason that better discharge of fertilizer therethrough by the auger flights is accomplished when the openings are so formed. In other words, fertilizer passing into the auger feed unit 8 through lthe openings I8, I9, and 20 is fed to, and discharges through, the outlet openings 2I, 22, and 23, respectively, in each longitudinal half of said unit.

A short depending outlet spout 24 is in register with each outlet opening, and depends from the under side of the feed tube I4, fertilizer from said spouts either falling onto a broadcast plate (not shown) below the auger feed unit 8, or being coupled to feed tubes, likewise not shown but which are conventional.

Under certain working conditions it is desirable to close one or more of the spouts 24, in which event it is fitted with a bottom cap 25 held in place by a removable cross pin 26. Similarly, it is desirableunder certain working conditions-to close one or more of the intake openings, and in this case the opening is closed by a cap or cover plate 21 which is elongated and substantially semicircular in cross section. The cap or cover plate 21 is placed on the upper half of the feed tube I4 in overlying relation to the selected one of the intake openings. One of these caps is shown in place over the intake opening 20 at the left-hand end of the auger unit 8. See Fig. 2.

The rotary agitator unit II includes, with the shaftI I2, a plurality of radial, circumferentially spaced, agitator pins 28, which pins correspond to, and are vertically alined with, the intake openings I8, I9, and 20 of each longitudinal half of the feed tube I4.

Adjacent the ends of the shaft I2, and at points intermediate the radial agitator pins 28, said shaft is fitted with segmental, helical, agitator and feeder blades 29, the endmost blades feeding inwardly from opposite ends of the hopper, while the remaining blades, which are double, feed both right and left therefrom, as indicated by the arrows.

In operation of the fertilizer distributor, the rotary agitator unit II, including the agitator and feeder blades 29, works eIIectively to maintain the fertilizer in the hopper under constant agitation directly above the auger feed unit 8. At the same time, the blades 29 feed the fertilizer lengthwise of the 'shaft I2 in the direction of corresponding ones of the intake openings IB, I9, or 20.

Directly above said intake openings the fertilizer is subjected to further agitation by the radial pins 28; the blades 29 and the pins 29 working effectively to break up lumpy fertilizer and to assure its delivery to the corresponding intake openings I8, I9, and 2li.

From said intake openings, the fertilizer is fed. by the auger flights I6 or I1, lto the diagonal outlet openings 2|, 22, or 23, whence the fertilizer discharges through the outlet spouts 24.

Between the laterally outermost outlet 24 and the adjacent end of the hopper I, there are safety openings 30 in the bottom of the feed tube I4; Ithe purpose of these safety openings being to prevent any detrimental build-up of fertilizer in opposite ends of said tube under the inuence of the auger flights, which build-up might otherwise occur if the adjacent spouts 24, or the hoses connected thereto, should plug.

To broadcast fertilizer delivering from the spout 24, such fertilizer either falls on a deilector pan, as previously stated, or delivers to hoses (not shown) connected to the spouts 24, but which hoses deliver freely toward the ground. For side- 4 dressing along crop rows, or for drilling fertilizer into the ground, hoses are connected to certain of the spouts 24, while feeding from others of such spouts is stopped.

The delivery of fertilizer from any outlet spout 24 may be stopped by application of a bottom cap 25, or the corresponding intake opening (I8, I3, or 20) may be closed by one of the caps 21.

With the described fertilizer distributor, including especially the auger feed unit 8 and the rotary agitator unit I I, fertilizer can be distributed from the hopper I in a closely regulated or metered quantity and at such points as conditions may require.

The fertilizer distributor thus provides an effective mechanism for the control or regulated distribution of fertilizer for broadcasting, side dressing, or drilling. The volume of feed is, of course. regulated by the speed of the auger feed unit l, which speed-by reason of the ground drive-will result in the distribution of the same amount of fertilizer per acre regardless of .the speed of the supporting implement.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a modification of the auger feed unit, which feed unit is here indicated generally at 3|. For certain types of uses, it is desired that the outlet spouts 32 be closely adjacent each other in pairs, as shown, and in this connection the corresponding diagonal outlet openings 33 in the feed tube 34 are likewise adjacent each other, but opposed.

The numeral 35 indicates the intake openings staggered lengthwise relative to the corresponding pairs of outlet openings 33; the shaft 33 of the auger feed unit 3I having opposed flights 31, between adjacent intake openings 35, feeding toward each other and discharging through the corresponding ones of the adjacent pair of outlet openings 33.

This modification of the invention functions in the same manner as the embodiment of Figs. 1-4, except that here the outlet tubes 32 are paired in closely adjacent relation.

While primarily for fertilizer distribution, the

, invention may also be used with seed to feed the same to drills.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. In a material distributor having a hopper, and a longitudinal auger feed unit in the bottom of the hopper; said auger feed unit comprising a feed tube, there being spaced intake openings in the top of the tube and spaced outlet openings in the bottom of the tube, corresponding intake and outlet openings being staggered relative to each other, and an auger conveyor in the tube having flights arranged to feed material between said corresponding openings; the tube extending to the ends of the hopper, there being endmost outlet openings in the tube adjacent but short of corresponding ends of said hopper, the related nights of the auger conveyor feeding toward said endmost outlet openings from laterally and inwardly thereof, and said tube having safety openings in the bottom thereof be- 5 tween said endmost outlet openings and said corresponding ends of the hopper.

2. In a material distributor having a hopper,

and a longitudinal auger feed unit in the bottom of the hopper; said auger feed unit comprising a D feed tube, there being spaced intake openings in the top of the tube and spaced outlet openings in the bottom of the tube, corresponding intake and outlet openings being staggered relative to each other, an auger conveyor in the tube having flights arranged to advance and feed material between said corresponding openings, the intake openings extending transversely in the top of the feed tube, and means to close said intake openings separately and selectively, the closure means for each intake opening comprising a removable cap of arcuate cross section fitting the tube.

BERNELL E. PIERCE.

References Cited in the 111e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Re. 3,278 Re. 4,499 283,135 558,715 1,258,515 1,829,627 1,947,379 2,180,253 2,258,519 2,511,514 2,522,693 2,538,886 2,543,288 2,594,687

Number Name Date -Stevens et al. Jan. 26, 1869 Wight Aug. 1, 1871 Minchener Aug. 14, 1883 Bradley Apr. 21, 1896 Willis Mar. 5, 1918 Bamford et al. Oct. 27, 1931 Cargill Feb. 13, 1934 Moore Nov. 14, 1939 Schumacher Oct. 7, 1941 Rosselot June 13, 1950 Stiteler Sept. 19, 1950 ISkibbe et al Jan. 23, 1951 Hoffstetter Feb. 27, 1951 Scott Apr. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia May 18, 193'? 

